A Journey of Discovery and Empathy: Intercultural Competence Workshops at Baptist Rainbow Primary School

How do you build a more inclusive community? At CantoGather, we believe the answer begins with our youngest generation.

We were thrilled to partner with Baptist Rainbow Primary School to work with their enthusiastic Primary 4 students. These young leaders are about to embark on their own project to foster connection with their non-Chinese neighbours, and we had the privilege of preparing them with two hands-on workshops on intercultural competence.

Our first workshop was all about "Breaking Stereotypes." We kicked things off with a fun quiz, introducing students to captivating facts about South and Southeast Asian cultures. The energy in the room was electric as we then sang and danced to a lively Nepalese nursery rhyme—a beautiful moment of shared joy! To make the lesson tangible, we showed the students a photo of a non-Chinese child and asked them to guess his background. Challenging their preconceptions and then revealing his true identity sparked a powerful reflection on what stereotypes are and how we can move beyond them.

The second workshop focused on “Starting a Dialogue.” We warmed up with the spirited bamboo dance, a tradition from many cultures that got everyone moving and ready to connect. From there, we introduced simple, respectful tips for conversation. Students immediately put their new skills to the test in an interactive story, making choices about how to welcome and befriend a new non-Chinese classmate. The heart of the session came when our staff member, Hassan, shared his personal story of growing up in Hong Kong with a mixed Pakistani and Nepalese heritage. Answering the students' questions with warmth and candour, he provided an inspiring and deeply personal example of cross-cultural connection.

Throughout our time together, we also taught the students to say "hello" in different languages. We were so touched when they greeted us for the second workshop using the words they had learned the week before. This small moment spoke volumes about their engagement and openness to learn.

It was a delight to see the students' genuine happiness as they played, danced, and learned. We are confident these workshops have not only given them practical skills but have also sparked a deeper empathy. As they now begin their own project to connect with their neighbours, we know they are armed with more than just friendly greetings; they have the understanding and confidence to be true forces for good. We are so proud to nurture these young minds as they start building a more harmonious Hong Kong, one conversation at a time.